10 Travel Tips for Florence, Italy

Our trip to Florence, Italy was filled with excited anticipation…and a decent dose of angst. We spent days – weeks – meticulous planning our vacation.

We wanted to ensure that we made the most of our visit. At the same time, we were aiming to experience more than a checklist of sights.

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Florence is known for Renaissance Art, extravagant architecture, grand churches and delectable cuisine. And we were determined to soak it all in!

For the most part, our diligent work paid off in spades. That said, we learned a few things along the way that we wished we’d known before traveling to Florence.

Because the Renaissance City is a dream destination for so many travelers, we are imparting our top travel tips for Florence, Italy!

10 Essential Travel Tips for Florence, Italy

Italy vacation planning can be a daunting task – but with our Florence travel tips it doesn’t have to be! We have rounded up our best bits of advice to help you plan your perfect trip.

Looking for suggestions about your day-by-day adventures? Our 3-Days in Florence and One Week in Tuscany itineraries are a great place to start!

#1 Buy Florence Attractions Tickets in Advance

Without a doubt, one of our top tips for traveling to Florence is to purchase tickets ahead of time!

The art-filled museums and opulent churches are top reasons to visit Florence. Tickets are required for entry into the best museums, many churches and even some of the gardens.

Tickets to many prime attractions are sold for a specific date and time and do sell out. Furthermore, the line to purchase tickets can be incredibly long and you don’t want to waste your precious time!

We are sharing a few of the popular ticket options and tours to consider for your trip to Florence, Italy.

Timed Tickets

Florence’s most famous sights – Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Duomo – all require tickets. They can be purchased online for a specific time and date.

Note that while these allow you to skip the ticket line (but not the security line), they are non-refundable and include a service charge.

City Pass Florence

The Florence City Pass includes entry to the premier art museums for one price. However, as all these museums in Florence have transitioned to timed entry, you will still need to reserve your slot in advance.

We’ll leave it up to you to decide if this Florence 3-Day Attractions Pass is the right option for your interests.

Tickets with Florence Tour Guides

Here’s another one of our top Florence tips for travelers: Joining a tour can both expedite the entry process and enhance your visit.

Local guides can swiftly show you the best artwork inside museums and provide interesting information about the city.

We believe visiting popular Florence sights with a tour guide can be very beneficial. Below are top-rated, guided tours that you may want to consider for your trip.

Accademia Tour with Guide – Read reviews
Uffizi Guided Tour – Join up here
Santa Croce Basilica with a Guide – Reserve your space
Palazzo Vecchio Guided Tour – Get the details
Dome Climb and Skip-the-Line Cathedral Tour – Find out more
Guided Bargello Museum Tour – Book it

Tour Multiple Florence Attractions with a Guide

To be truly efficient, consider booking one of the multi-sight guided tours. We are highlighting a few highly-rated combo tours.

Guided Combination Accademia and Uffizi Tour

This excursion is perfect for travelers who want to make the most of their time. Guests of the small group tour are guided by a professional through two of the best museums in Florence – and visit Piazza del Duomo in between. Purchase your ticket!

Accademia, Dome and Cathedral Tour

On this small-group tour, participants get a personal introduction to the best Florence places to see.

See The David at the Accademia, climb to the top of Brunelleschi’s Cupola and tour the Cathedral with a knowledgeable guide.

Additionally, guests are given a ticket valid for 72 hours to visit other Florence Cathedral sights (the museum and the Baptistery). Read the reviews!

Tour Pitti Palace Museums and Boboli Gardens

Let a guide lead the way through the most impressive parts of the Pitti Palace Museums. Then, continue into the lush landscape of Boboli Gardens and learn stories about the powerful Medici family. Reserve your spot!

Travel Hack for Florence: Free Museums

The cost of tickets can add up – so you may need to prioritize sights. Alternatively, those who plan to be in Florence on the first Sunday of the month can take advantage of free admission to major museums.

The Florence free museum days, called Domenica al Museo, are a money-saving gem. Just be prepared for long lines, as no bookings or priority passes are accepted on the free Sundays.

#2 Make Florence Dinner Reservations

Eating in Florence, Italy is just as exciting as seeing the sights! We share recommendations for restaurants (as well as tips for the most famous foods to eat) in our Florence Foodie Guide.

If a restaurant is high on your list, be sure to make advance reservations. The most popular Florence places to eat get fully booked – especially in summer.

While you might luck out with a cancelation, it’s more likely that you’ll miss out on the dining experience completely if you don’t book ahead.

Florence Travel Tips about Tipping

It is common to tip servers about 10% at sit-down restaurants. Note that in many establishments a ‘servizio’ charge is automatically added to the bill.

Check your receipt; if you have been charged a ‘servizio’ fee, it is not necessary to tip an additional amount.

#3 Plan How Many Days in Florence

Planning how many days to spend in Florence is a huge consideration when organizing your vacation.

We struggled with this ourselves. Not only did we want to see the sights in Florence, we desired to take day trips to Tuscan destinations while using the city as a base.

In the end, we planned 10-days in Florence, which we feel was ideal. We spent 6 days in the city and took 4 day trips. (We share where later in the article!)

In hindsight – and with a really solid plan – we could have managed to see the highlights of Florence in just 3 days. For a more leisurely itinerary, we definitely recommend spending 4 or 5 days in the city.

Organize Your Tuscany Trip

A little organization goes a long way! By establishing a day-by-day itinerary, you can better plan how many days to visit Florence.

Using our Printable Travel Planner can help you get (and stay) organized for your travels to Tuscany!

#4 Decide When to Visit Florence

As a popular year-round destination – we feel there are pros and cons to visiting Florence in each season.

We believe spring is the best time to go to Florence, which is why we traveled to the city in April. The crowds were manageable, the weather was comfortable and prices were reasonable.

The one downside is that in early spring, the flowers are not yet in bloom. But we think the ease of everything else made up for it!

Summertime is the busiest, hottest and most expensive time to go to Florence. There are many mid-year festivals in Florence that give some travelers reason enough to visit. In our opinion, it is best to avoid Florence in summer.

Autumn can be an excellent time to travel to Florence. Crowds, temperatures and prices are all substantially lower. Additionally, the fall foliage in the Tuscan countryside is said to be stunning – and it’s harvest season for wine vineyards and olive groves!

Many travelers bypass Florence in the winter, but it’s not necessarily a bad place to spend the Holidays in Europe! The weather is fairly mild (it rarely snows or drops below freezing), plus Christmas in Florence, Italy is marked by twinkling lights, markets and festivals.

Set Expectations

Whenever you decide to vacation in Florence, we feel you can make the absolute most of your trip by setting realistic expectations.

Summer crowds can be challenging. Winter weather can be dismal. There is no perfect time to go to Florence. Instead, focus on making the most of your time there!

#5 Determine How To Get to Florence, Italy

The City of Florence can be reached by plane, train, bus or car. Unless you are already in Italy, we believe the best way to get to Florence is by flying.

Airports in Florence

The only airport in Florence, Italy is the Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (FLR) – also called the Amerigo Vespucci Airport. Other places to fly in near Florence are Pisa, Bologna and Rome.

Note that there are no direct flights from the United States to Florence. Instead, when flying from abroad, we recommend searching for connections in major cities, like Frankfurt, London or Paris.

If flying internationally to Rome, you can opt to continue to by plane or train. Alternatively, if you fly into Venice, the train offers the quickest connection (but you can also take a bus).

Amerigo Vespucci Airport Florence to City Center

Those arriving by plane can use the easy and affordable tram to get to the center of town. Alternatively, book private transport direct to your hotel in advance.

Florence Train Station (and Bus Station)

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main train station in Florence, Italy. It conveniently located in the city center near the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella Church.

The main Florence Bus Station is adjacent to the train station, but somewhat hidden behind the buildings.

Hacks For Cheap Flights to Florence

Using a search engine for flights – like SkyScanner – is the best way to compare routes and prices. For more money-saving airfare hacks, read our Tips for Finding Cheap Flights.

#6 Figure Out How to Get Around Florence, Italy

One of the things we like most about Florence is that it’s fairly easy to traverse on foot. Hills are only prevalent on the southeast side of the city. That said, there are other fun ways of getting around, too!

Bike Rentals

Travelers who want to tour Florence on two wheels can rent a bike. Pedaling around can be a great way to cover more ground in a short amount of time! Reserve a bike in advance and get routes, maps, information and use of a helmet.

Florence Bus Tour

The tourist bus can be extremely useful for those who want easy transport to the top attractions. You can give your feet a rest and be chauffeured around on a double-decker, open-top bus with a 1 to 3-day ticket.

Car Rental

One of our best travel tips for Florence is to forego renting a car while visiting the city. The fact is that driving in Florence, Italy is not advised.

Many streets in the city center are pedestrianized, there is very limited parking and traffic laws are treated more as guidelines.

That said, travelers who want to explore the countryside of Tuscany on their own might want to rent a car. Before making that reservation, read our Hacks for Renting Cars Cheap.

Public Transport for Regional Exploration

While we did not use public transport to get around Florence, we found that it was quite convenient for most of our day trips.

We traveled by buses and trains to get around Tuscany. In addition to the routes being fairly straightforward, tickets were very affordable.

Although we did find a bus route to the Chianti wine region, we surmised that it would be far better to join an organized tour (which we found on Viator).

#7 Choose Where To Stay in Florence, Italy

When looking for the best place to stay in Florence for our trip, we were overwhelmed by the choices.

Should we stay in the center or in Oltrarno? Would a hotel or apartment be better? How much of our budget did we want to spend on accommodation?

Because we were planning a longer stay, we determined that an affordable Airbnb apartment in Oltrarno would work best.

Not a fan of Airbnb? No problem, you can find holiday apartments in Florence on Booking.com, too!

Top-Rated Hotels in Florence for All Budgets

There are ample choices of accommodations in Florence, Italy that fit a range of styles, sizes and budgets.

Of course, no one wants to overpay for their stay! So, use our travel tips for Florence on Finding the Best Places for Cheap before making reservations. Here’s a few top-rated properties for you to consider.

Palazzo Bianca Cappello

Rich with history and adorned in elegance, the Palazzo Bianco Cappello is one of the best hotels in Florence, Italy for a luxury stay.

Situated in the Oltrarno District, the property gets high marks for the comfortable rooms and their delightful staff.

Hotel Davanzati

Offering good value for money, Hotel Davanzati might be the best hotel in Florence, Italy for budget-conscious travelers.

Located in the heart of the city, it is just steps from top attractions – plus they offer a fabulous, included breakfast and happy hour!

Hostel Ostello Tasso

Travelers looking for a cheap hostel in Florence, Italy can book a bed in a dorm at Ostello Tasso for a bargain price. Check availability!

#8 Pack for your Florence Trip

Now that we have shared some of the top things to know before going to Florence – it’s time to talk about everyone’s least favorite thing. Deciding what to pack!

Comfortable Shoes

As we stated, Florence is a very walkable city – but only with the right shoes! I wear casual rainers and Kris prefers these trail shoes. You can read our reviews on more of the Best Shoes for Travel.

Travel Camera

Florence is stunningly gorgeous! Upgrade to a real camera to capture the beauty of Tuscany. We travel with a Canon Rebel and use a 18-135mm lens.

Not only does it take quality photos, but it’s also priced affordably – making it a great camera for budget travelers.

Zippered Day Pack

With long days of sightseeing, you will need to carry a day bag where you can stow all of your everyday essentials. It is important to make sure you have a zippered bag – as pickpockets can be a problem.

We use small backpacks that are big enough to fit a camera, lightweight jacket (or wrap) and all of our personal items. Read our advice on what makes the Best Day Bags for Traveling.

Italy Trip Insurance

Travel insurance can be useful in the worst situations – if your flight cancels, airlines lose your luggage or you get sick while abroad. If you don’t already have coverage, check rates at World Nomads.

Florence Packing Tips and Hacks

We believe backpacks (instead of suitcases) are ideal for traveling to Europe.
Packing Cubes are travel all-stars; using them makes trips so much easier!
Peruse our Ultimate Packing List – then grab your FREE Checklist!
Use our Packing Hacks to make it all fit your luggage.

#9 Sort Out Your Florence Trip Budget

One of the top things to know about Florence, Italy is that it can be very expensive. Between the flight, hotel and attractions, costs can really add up.

We prefer to set a budget for our travels, as it’s a good way to ensure we don’t overspend. Start with our Free Budget Planner – then, we’ll send you more tips for saving money on your Florence trip.

#10 Get Ready to Explore Florence

By now, you are hopefully really excited for your European Vacation! Our final bit of Florence travel advice is to plan ahead for your daily adventures. As you may have guessed, we have free travel guides that will help!

Our Self-Guided Historic Florence Walking Tour navigates to the top sights in the city center. When you want to explore to the south of the river, our Self-Guided Walk of Oltrarno offers a fantastic introduction.

Florence day trips to nearby Tuscan locations can easily be planned on your own, too.

Use our guide to Beautiful Siena to find out what to do.
Our San Gimignano post showcases the best of the ancient town.
Read how to visit famous Pisa and pretty Lucca in one day.
If you want to see Chianti vineyards, we recommend booking a tour. We took this half-day wine tasting tour.

Fun Facts about Florence, Italy

The city is famous for being the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’ because the period’s rich art and architecture were born here.

The dome of the Florence Duomo is the largest masonry dome in the world…and it was constructed without any scaffolding!

There are 12 bridges that cross the Arno River in Florence; Ponte Vecchio is the most famous.

Florence is known as The City of Lilies. The beautiful white lily (or Florentine Lily) grows abundantly around the city and in manicured gardens.

Gelato is native to Florence; the creamy frozen dessert was invented here in 1530. That fact alone is reason enough to indulge in gelato every day of your vacation. Have fun!

Now that you have our travel tips for Florence, start planning your trip to Italy! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional tips? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

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